Carnitine and its use in reducing cardiac toxicity and as a synergist with cytostats

Abstract

Carnitine may be administered for the purpose of reducing cardiac toxicity resulting from administration of a cytostat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of reducing cardiac toxicity in humans which results from the administration to such human of a cytostat selected from the group consisting of Daunomycin, N-acetyl-Daunomycin and Daunomycin oxine, which comprises administering to said human in combination with said cytostat, an amount of β-hydroxy-γ-trimethylaminobutyric acid, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, an isomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an isomer thereof sufficient to reduce cardiac toxicity. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the β-hydroxy-γ-trimethylaminobutyric acid is administered as a hydrochloride salt. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cytostat is Daunomycin. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cytostat is N-acetyl-Daunomycin. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cytostat is Daunomycin oxine.